{"The Shadow of My Father" is
pure fiction. As I am writing this story, I am above the age of 21. If you want
a story with lots of sex, look elsewhere. This is a love story. Seeing, as it
is a love story, sex is in there, but it is in realistic balance in the
characters' lives.

Any similarity to any real
events, names, or life events is purely accidental. If you are underage,
(according to your state laws, a minor), if this literature is offensive to you
or to anyone around your viewing area, or it is illegal for you to view such
content where you are reading it, stop reading the story.

This story cannot be distributed
in any way, shape or form without authors' express written consent.}

Story Written by: J.P.G.

Love Scenes Written By: Trevor

Edited By: Ed

Edited By: Trevor

I have a home page for you to see what the characters
look like or what the places look like. If you want to walk in their shoes,
please go to: http://jacobmillertex.com/

Chapter 13

Josh could see that his brothers
were getting a little bored sitting there not really doing anything. Cesar was
in and out, so out of respect they didn't turn on the television in Cesar's
room in order to let him sleep when he did fall asleep. Without being able to
pass the time watching television, time dragged on for the Lopez boys.

Finally, about three Josh got up
and pushed his brothers out of Cesar's room. At first they thought Josh was
losing his mind, but when they got out into the hallway and Josh explained why
he was kicking them out, they understood. Josh asked them to go and grab
something to eat in the cafeteria or across the street at either the Burger
King or Taco Bell. It was up to them, just as long as they did something
besides being bored to death.

"Look we're going because we know
that you are not kicking us out of the room because you want us not to be
bored, but because you and Cesar want some alone time." Daniel Jr. grinned at
Josh and then started to chuckle. "Not really, we know that is far from you
guy's minds right now. We'll be back in a half an hour or so."

Carlos and Brandon chuckled at
the look on Josh's face. It took a few seconds, but it got through to Josh that
his brothers were only kidding with him. He started to laugh as his brothers
patted him on the shoulder as they headed over to the elevator. Josh didn't go
back into the room until he saw the door to the elevator close with his
brothers behind it.

Once he saw that, he headed back
into the room and just as he sat down, there was a knock on the door. Josh
thought it was his brother playing another trick on him, but when he looked up
to see three guys standing there in suits, he got a little worried. The guys at
the door didn't wait to be invited in, they just did it. Josh thought they were
doctors by the way they were looking at Cesar and his chart, but the looks on
their faces was telling a different story.

"Excuse me, I know you guys can't
be doctors by the way you look so confused on looking at my boyfriends chart.
So why don't you just put the chart down and tell me who you are and why you
are here?"

The guys looked at each other,
but didn't put the chart down. Seeing that refusal, Josh was getting angry. He
did not like the fact people that were not doctors just walk in his boyfriend's
room and do whatever they please so he got up from his seat and walked over to
the person holding Cesar's chart. He grabbed it from him and put it back where
they took it from, but didn't sit back down.

"I don't know how you got through
security and into this room, but I'm calling my security to have you tossed out
on your asses." Josh reached over to his ring that he was given to him by
Jonathan that had a small panic button installed in it. Just as he was about to
push it, the guys that walked in started to talk.

"You're right, we're not doctors.
We are from your record label. All three of us were sent down here to see what
we can do to help you and Cesar get through this horrible thing that happened to..."
Before he was able to complete his sentence, several security agents rushed in
with their guns out of their holsters.

"I don't know who these guys are,
but they just walked in here as if they owned the place." Josh spoke in a
commanding voice. "What, you guys just let anyone off the street to just walk
in here like this, and seeing if they are cleared by my father or me. They
could be people that are here to finish the job. Come on now, this is
bullshit!"

Jonathan and Russ walked in and
asked the agents to holster their weapons. "Josh we cleared these three
gentlemen before they were even allowed onto the floor. They are from your
record label and are here to talk with you about something to do with your
upcoming CD and concert, so we let them through."

Josh looked over at the three
guys in the suits. "That is all fine and dandy, but that did not give you guys
the right to do what you did on looking at Cesar's chart. You are executives at
a record company, not doctors. So stay away from my boyfriends chart and
anything else that you have no business looking at."

"Look gentlemen we are sorry for
all this confusion. We should not have looked at the chart, it was just we
wanted to make sure we were informed correctly on how Cesar is doing. That is
all, but again we are sorry." One of the label executives said as he looked
over at Cesar. "Why don't we take this out into the hallway where we can talk
without waking up your boyfriend? I'm pretty sure he needs his rest."

Hesitantly, Josh agreed. He only
did it because he didn't want the executives to think they could look at other
things that are not their business. The security agents walked out first,
followed by Russ, Jonathan, the executives and finally Josh. When they got into
the hallway, the security agents stood back from Josh, but only about ten feet.

"Once again we are sorry for over stepping the mark in
there! Let's start out all over again from scratch, I am Mr. Forbes, these
other two gentlemen are Barlow and Cooke. As I said, we were sent down here
when the label heard what happened at the NBC Studio last night. We're here to
do a couple of things.

First, damage control on what
happened last night to you, your boyfriend and family. We can't afford any bad
press so close to your CD being released. Bad enough we are already dealing
with an uphill battle with who you are." Josh didn't like what Mr. Forbes said,
but has gotten used to hearing it already.

"We have a plan to overshadow
what happened last night, but let us first get to the other reason we are here,
which is sales. The concert is not sold out yet and we don't know how your CD
is going to sell since no one really knows you outside this city. To make
matters worse for us is you being in high school. You can't go around the
nation selling the CD before it gets released like we do with all our other
artists."

"You all knew that from the
beginning that I will not miss school to promote a CD or a Concert. During the
summer I can do that, but not during the school year. If that is going to be a
problem, we are..." Mr. Forbes interrupted Josh.

"Right now we can work around you
being in school. That is not the problem we have right at this moment. The
problem we do have is the attempted murder on you and Cesar. What I understand
about what happened, it's a family issue. If that is the case, there is nothing
really we can do for you to spin it. Your father and his political team are
probably working on spinning it in his favor, which means it will be in your
favor as well

So let's move on from that to the
other topic I want to run by you. Not only did Cesar get hurt, he got hurt
badly. On your way to the hospital, you performed CPR that you learned in
school, to save his life. On top of that, his doctor had to perform emergency
surgery out in the SUV where you were. You refused to leave his side, even when
the doctor had to shock him when his heart stopped.

We can use all that to not only
sell out the concert, but also as well sell your CD. You can dedicate your
first CD to your boyfriend and really use the sympathy you are getting right
now in your favor. I have been in this business for over three decades, and let
me tell you this could not have come at a better time."

Josh couldn't believe the balls
on Mr. Forbes. If Mr. Forbes knew him, he would have known not to even present
the ideas that he presenting right now. There would be no way he would ever use
what happened to him and Cesar to sell anything. On top of all that, he would
never dedicate his CD to someone that got hurt or killed in order to sell his
CD.

Not knowing really how to respond
to Mr. Forbes and the other two, Josh stayed quiet as he gathered his thoughts.
The silence though didn't stop Mr. Forbes on continuing to try and sell to Josh
that he should take advantage of what happened. The more Mr. Forbes kept
pushing, the more Josh got angry until he had enough.

"Listen I will never, ever do
what you are recommending me to do. I don't know what you guys were thinking,
but you were not thinking at all on how I would have reacted on what you want
me to do." At this point Josh was yelling at Mr. Forbes. "Either my CD and the
concert are going to sell on its own, or it isn't. If not, then this is not the
business I should be in and it's best to find that out now, than later."

"I understand your hesitation on
this, but I think you are missing the point. We don't think your CD or the
concert is not going to sell on its own. In fact, we know they are going to
sell without question. No sir, what we are trying to do with what we are recommending
to you is ensure these two items sell without a worry."

Josh had enough of the
conversation. He was not going to change his mind, and by the looks of it,
neither are Mr. Forbes and his co-workers. He tried to end the conversation
talking normally, but the three from the record label took turns selling the
idea. They were not taking no for an answer no matter how Josh put it.

As he was trying to get out of
the conversation and go back into the room, he spotted his friends, Bernice,
Eric, Father Gomez and the others heading down the hallway. Not wanting to lose
the fight, he did not greet his friends as soon as they walked up. Instead, he
stood his ground and made it clear to Mr. Forbes it was a no sale.

"Sir, if you take our
recommendations, your CD will fly off the shelves and the concert would be sold
out. I know it doesn't sound right, but we need to take advantage of what
happened to your boyfriend while we can." Josh could see that Mr. Forbes and
the other two were frustrated, but he was too, so he was not about to bend.

"No I will not do that, hell no."
Josh angrily shouted at the representatives from his record label. "I will not
go out there and say what you want me to say in order to sell more tickets or
CD's. I'd rather not have a contract before I ever do what you want me to do."
Josh turned and started to walk back to Cesar's room, but stopped halfway and
turned back around. "Tear up my contract, because I don't want to be part of a
label that is willing to do what you guys are asking me to do."

Mr. Forbes, Barlow and Cooke were
stunned at Josh's reaction. Mr. Cooke was not about to be talked down to by a
teenager. So he ran after Josh and when he caught up to him, he patted him on
the shoulder to get his attention. Josh turned and looked at Mr. Cooke. The
look on his face should have told Mr. Cooke to walk away, but the guy was not
willing to.

"Son, you have no idea what we
have had to do to get things done for you. You at least should be thanking us,
not giving us the cold shoulder as you are doing. So stop acting like a little
spoiled kid and just fall in line. Do what we are asking you to do without
giving us the problems you are giving us, understood."

Josh stood there stunned on what
he was just told. Not once has he acted like a spoiled brat, as Mr. Cooke put
it. At least he thinks so and can remember. For what is going on today, if
refusing to use what happened to Cesar and he yesterday is being a spoiled
brat, then he is, and he doesn't care. He will not use what happened to sell
one more CD than he would of if it didn't happen.

"You go back to the label and
tell them you have just lost a client." Mr. Cooke looked to his right and found
the governor standing there. "No one talks to my son the way you just did,
especially when he has not done what you claim."

"Governor Lopez Please excuse my
partner here, he worded things wrong." Mr. Forbes walked between the governor
and Mr. Cooke. "I take full responsibility on what was said here and ask you to
reconsider what you just said. Josh here has signed a contract already with our
label and if he breaks it, he will have to pay us."

That threat did not help matters
any, in fact it just made things worse. "I don't care about any contract that
has been signed between the record company you are with and my son. He will not
be talked to in the manner you and your co-workers have been talking to him. If
there is a penalty for breaking the contract, it will get paid in full, but I
don't want him with a record label that wants to get rich off someone's misery.

You and your co-workers leave
this hospital and I'd better not see you around my son or family again. If I
do, you will regret it." Governor Lopez waved Russ and Jonathan over to him and
Josh. "Have these gentlemen escorted off of this floor and out of this building
immediately. If they attempt to contact my son, have them arrested."

Russ and Jonathan nodded their
heads as they started to push Mr. Forbes, Cooke and Barlow towards the
elevator. They were at their side the entire way down to the lobby, which
Forbes did not shut up for one second. He tried to talk Russ and Jonathan into
letting him go back up and clear up what just happened, but Russ and Jonathan
were not listening. They followed the orders they got from their boss and escorted
them out of the building. Once they were out of the building, Russ made it
clear to them not to talk to Josh or come around him or the governor's family
if they don't want to be arrested.

As soon as Russ and Jonathan
walked in, Mr. Forbes started to yell at Mr. Cooke. "I know and you know if
this can't be fixed, we're all fired. The record label sent us down here to
make sure things are going smoothly, not lose them their newest clients. Damn
it Cooke, what in the hell were you thinking saying what you said to Josh up
there?"

"I know we were all thinking what
I said, but none of us was willing to say it. He was acting like a spoiled kid
on refusing to go with what we were recommending to sell more tickets and his
CD. Hell, what happened to him and his boyfriend last night is a blessing for
him at this moment. He either is too stupid to see it, or is unwilling to see
it. Whatever the reason is, he is shooting himself in the foot on this."

Mr. Forbes didn't respond to what
was just said. He needed to call his boss and let him know what just happened
before the governor does. As he picked up the car phone and dialed the number,
he was shaking for fear that he and the others with him are going to be on the
unemployment line after the conversation he is about to have.

A couple rings later, he heard
his boss's voice on the other end of the line. After they greeted each other,
Mr. Forbes went right into why he had called. Not leaving a thing out on what
happened, he told his boss what they did and what the outcome was. He could
tell by the way his boss was breathing on the other end, he wasn't happy at
all.

"I sent you three down there to
make sure things are running smoothly for our newest recording artist and here
you are calling me to say we have lost him. Who in the hell gave you guys
permission to recommend anything to Josh. If I was in his shoes, I would have
reacted the same way with what you guys were asking.

First you guys didn't think about
the timing. It hasn't even been a day since the stabbing and here you were
asking him to exploit the stabbing. Come on; use your heads on this. You should
have at least waited a little longer before even thinking about that, more so
actually saying it out loud to him.

Secondly, calling him a spoiled
brat not only to his face, but also with his father present, what are you guys
smoking. His father, the governor had all the right to step in as he did and
ask you all to leave. Mr. Cooke had no right to say that and I know he knows
that. Why he did it, who knows except him."

"Sir with all due respect, what
we..." Mr. Forbes was stopped immediately.

"Let me tell you what you guys
are going to do at this point. Go back to your hotel and pack your stuff. Head
down to the airport, turn in your rental and get on a plane back here. Once you
are back into town, I want to see all three of you in my office. What I need to
do can't be done over the phone.

While you guys are on your way
back, I need to see what I can do to clean up the huge mess you created down
there. Damn it..." Mr. Forbes boss started to hit his receiver on his desk.
"Think before you fucking speak, think you guys, think. That is why you have a
head on your shoulders. Get back here and let me get someone else down there to
clean up all this mess. You guys better hope we can salvage this."

Mr. Forbes wasn't able to respond
before his boss slammed his receiver down. All he heard was the dial tone and
then the operator coming on the line asking him if he needed help to make a
call. He hung up his receiver and waved Barlow and Cooke to the car. As soon as
they got in, they asked what their boss said, but Forbes didn't answer. The
only thing that came out of his mouth is for Barlow to head back to the hotel.

While the three executives from
the record company were out in the parking lot of the hospital, Bernice, Eric
and the rest of the gang were in Cesar's room making him feel out of this
world. They got him whatever he wanted when he needed something. When dinner
came, Bernice tried to feed him like a baby, but Cesar stopped her. She did cut
his meat, but after that Cesar took his fork and knife from her and fed
himself.

In the other room, the governor
was on a conference call with his staff in Austin. The main topic at hand was
the bills that they have been working on and Al. Since nothing has changed
about the bills, the governor went to the topic of Al. He was informed that Al
was not going to be able to go to Austin any earlier than the second week of
February, which didn't make the governor happy.

"Okay, let me handle getting Al
to Austin earlier if possible. Since I am here, I should take advantage of it
and go see Al in person. During that meeting I will stress to him how important
it is for him to get to Austin sooner than mid February. In the meantime, has
it been difficult clearing my face to face meetings and rescheduling them?"

"Pretty much all of them have
been rescheduled, except for a couple Governor." Rich took the floor. "Since we
don't know how long we are going to be out of Austin, I have taken the liberty
to clear your schedule up till Thursday of next week. If you need more time
than that, I will clear the remainder of the week."

"I know we are all tired and
working on little sleep, but we knew this was part of the job description when
we got it." The governor chuckled, trying to lighten up the mood that seemed to
him to be too down. "I only have a couple of things left to go over and then
you can all go home and enjoy the weekend with your family."

That seemed to do the trick.
Everyone was livelier after the governor said that. "I have been looking over
my schedule and I see I have a meeting at the end of the month with the
president of Mexico. That meeting was not cleared through me. I know we are
tight with time, so let's cancel that meeting and move some of the meetings
that were canceled to that day. It clears up an entire day by doing so."

"Yes sir it does clear up an
entire day, but you need to keep that meeting with the President Carlos Salinas
de Gortari." Rich laughed as he caught his breath. "Man is that a mouth full to
say. I have never seen such a long name like that." The others on the
conference call, including the governor, started laughing.

"The meeting has been on the
books for well over a year and a half. It was set up by the former governor and
his staff and it was one of the very few we kept. The reason for that is due to
the border we share. A lot happens on those borders that we have to have good
relationships with Mexico in order for the border towns to thrive."

"No not really, we don't need
them to survive, they need us. I know that because I am from a border town here
in Texas and I have seen how much El Paso gives to Juarez, but does not get
anywhere near back as much as it gives. However, I will keep the meeting, even
though I think it's a waste of time. I am doing it so the other Border States
do not get hurt by my decision on canceling the meeting.

Now since we are going to keep
that meeting, you guys are going to have to find time in my schedule to put the
meetings that are being canceled next week. I do not care where you put them as
long as I am not working twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Is that
clear to everyone?" Everyone at once said yes. "Good then, I am glad we see eye
to eye on that. If there is no other business, I say we are done."

No one presented anymore business
or issues to talk about. Since nothing else was needed to be talked about, the
governor thanked his staff and excused them for the weekend before hanging up
the phone. Rich stuck around for a little longer before heading to his
apartment that he is renting in El Paso.

Bernice, Eric and the gang hung
out with Josh and Cesar until nine when Father Gomez told them it was time to
go. Reluctantly they all got up, said their goodbyes to Josh and Cesar as they
headed out of the room. Josh's brothers, dad, mother and grandmother did not
leave for another hour, but when they did, the room was too quiet.

Both Josh and Cesar had got used
to the noise and when it was not there, they missed it. They stayed up for
another couple of hours before calling it a night. Like the night before, Josh
crawled into bed with Cesar and cuddled up next to him. Once they were both
comfortable in each other's arms, they laid back on the pillows.

They laid there in bed, Josh
cuddled up against Cesar's back, talking. Neither of them wanted to be the one
that stopped talking first, so they talked themselves to sleep. When they were
out, Russ turned off the light in the room and closed the door so the noise in
the hallway didn't disturb their sleep.

The weekend flew by faster than
Cesar thought it would. When he was told that he was going to be spending more
time in the hospital than originally told, he was frustrated. However, when his
and Josh's friends stopped in both Saturday and Sunday and spent the entire day
with them, he forgot all about his extended stay.

He didn't remember it until Josh
was getting ready leave on Sunday evening. Neither of them wanted to be apart,
but the governor was not going to allow Josh to miss another day of school.
Therefore, for the first time since they could remember, they are going to
spend the night apart from each other. Something that is making each of them
feel like their hearts are being ripped out of their chest.

Josh tried several times as he
gathered his stuff to talk his father into letting him stay, but Daniel Sr. was
not bending. When Josh asked the fourth time, his father made it clear to him
that the answer was not going to change and if he asks again, he was going to
be punished. Not wanting to, Josh stopped asking.

Trying to stretch out the time he
had, Josh took his time gathering his stuff. When Daniel Sr. noticed his son
taking his time, he asked his other boys to help Josh. Within minutes
everything Josh was taking back home was in a bag, at the door. Seeing there
was nothing else he could do to spend more time with Cesar. Josh reluctantly
made his way to his boyfriend's bed to say goodnight to him.

Leaning down to Cesar, Josh
started to speak with tears rolling down his cheeks. "I wish I could stay with
you, I really do." Josh wiped the tears from his face. "I can't remember the
last time we were not in the same bed, in each other's arms. There is no way I
can sleep without your heart beating against my chest, no way. I really wish I
could stay!"

"I know you do and I wish I could
go home and be with you, but that is not on the cards for us tonight or for the
next couple of nights I will be dreaming of you and I know you will be dreaming
of me. So stop this crying and wipe your face before you get up from the bed.
We do not want our parents and brothers to see you crying like this. Also I
don't want to start crying because seeing you crying is making me want to cry."

Josh smiled as he wiped away the
tears again from his face. He did as Cesar asked him and stopped crying. Once
he got control of his feelings, he and Cesar kissed. They did not break the
kiss until they heard Carlos calling out. Trying to steal a few more seconds,
they held the kiss, but then they heard Carlos again, which caused them to
break their kiss. They said goodnight to each other as they hesitantly let each
other go.

Neither Josh nor Cesar slept
through the night. Both of them kept reaching out for the other and when they
didn't find the other, they woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. When the
alarm sounded for Josh, he was more tired than he was when he went to bed the
night before. Not wanting to get into any more trouble with his father, he
forced himself out of bed and got ready for school.

Just as he thought, everyone at
school asked him how he and Cesar were doing. When he answered that question
over and over again throughout the morning, immediately it was followed up with
either who did it or had the person that did it been caught. Those two
questions threw Josh because if they read the newspaper or watched the news on
TV, they would know the answers to those questions.

By the time lunch rolled around,
Josh had enough of his teachers feeling sorry for him and the students asking him
questions. He thought he was prepared for it, but all he could think about and
wanted was Cesar. Since he got together with Cesar, they have never been apart
at school, or anywhere for that matter. Now here he is without his boyfriend at
school and not in his bed at night.

When he walked into fourth period
Los Tigres, all the students surrounded him and spilled the beans on what
happened last Friday. As they told Josh about the stunt that Mr. Edgar tried to
pull, it reminded him of his argument that he had with his record label. When
Josh's fellow classmates got to the part when they got up and walked out on Mr.
Edgar, it pulled Josh out of his own thoughts, back to reality.

"You guys have to be kidding me,
you really didn't do that?" Josh looked around and every one of his fellow
classmates shook their head. "Man thanks guys I really don't know what to say,
but again thanks. You don't know how much that means to hear that you guys had
my back when I was gone."

Before anyone could respond, the
final bell rang and Mr. Franklin asked the students to take their seats. He
took roll as he normally does before starting class. Once he completed roll
call, he walked to the middle of the stage and looked out to his students. He
was trying to figure out how to tell them how things unfolded with Mr. Edgar.

"Well I really don't know where
to start except with the obvious. I'm pretty sure you all have seen Mr. Edgar
around the halls throughout the day, but you don't see him here. All I can say
is that he will no longer be part of this class or Los Tigres. The detail
around his removal is between me, Principal Michaels and Mr. Edgar. So do not
ask because I will not answer any questions that you might have on that matter.

However, I will make it clear
here and now that none of you guys better start any rumors on what you think
might have happened to Mr. Edgar and why he is no longer here. There is no room
for gossip in this class. If I find out any of you start a rumor about what
happened with Mr. Edgar, you and I will have a talk. Trust me none of you guys
want to have that talk with me because at the end you will no longer be part of
this group.

No matter what you think about
Mr. Edgar and what he has done, he is still a teacher here and will be
respected as such. When you see him around the school, you will give him the
respect that he deserves and is demanded from a student to a teacher." Mr.
Franklin looked at each of his students in the eye and saw that he had gotten
through to them.

"Enough with that topic, let's
move on. We have about two weeks left before the big day, the concert. There is
still a lot of work to be done, so we'd better get busy." Mr. Franklin walked
over to his desk and grabbed a couple of folders off it. "You all have been
having a problem with several of Josh's songs, so I selected different ones
from his upcoming CD for you all to sing. They are a lot easier and I believe
you will catch onto them in just days, and will be completely ready for the
concert."

The class moaned as Mr. Franklin
handed out the new sheet music. Josh looked down at the new songs his teacher
chose from his CD and loved them. He wanted these songs to be ones from the
beginning since they are a lot more fun, maybe except for the Liven La Vida
Loca one. No matter, he could let that song go since it is more than an even
trade with these new songs that were chosen for them to sing.

The rest of the period, the class
was on the stage learning the new dance moves that Mr. Franklin put together
over the weekend. By the time the bell rang, the class caught onto the new
moves faster than they did the ones they had been working on for the other
songs. That made Mr. Franklin very happy and confidant that not only they will
be ready for the concert as he said, but as well they will win the next day in
their competition.

The rest of the day and pretty
much the first half of the week went by fast. Classes were easy for Josh, and
Los Tigres was fun. Still the only thing that was on his mind was for the day
to be over with so he can go to hospital and be with Cesar. The minute the
final bell rang for the day, Josh rushed out of the building as if the building
was on fire.

Jonathan and Russ took turns on
being at the school with Josh or at the hospital with Cesar. When Jonathan had some
down time, he took advantage of it. He started to do the interviews that the
governor lined up for him. The guys he met with were excellent, but he didn't
think he would get any of them to sign on to his detail for several reasons.

The first and most important was
the pay. For their kind of training and what they come to the table with. The
pay that is being offered is a lot lower than they are asking for. Second issue
Jonathan was facing was the set up. The ones he interviewed didn't like the
setup of having two different security units. In their mind, it won't work
because it will be too much confusion. The final issue was the two individuals
they would be guarding. Once again, they felt having the unit split into two
would cause a lot of confusion that will result in too many things falling
through the cracks.

By his tenth interview, he had
his team, but was certain he was going to be turned down when he offered the
job. Still he decided to try. Therefore, he called up the guys he liked the
most and asked them to come back in. He wanted to have them face to face when
the job is offered so he might have a better chance on getting a positive
answer from them.

When Jonathan was not
interviewing, he and Russ were talking on how they were going to work the two
units as one. Jonathan at first thought that Russ might not go along with the
change because he might think it was a demotion, but Russ surprised him. He not
only welcomed the change, he offered to do whatever was needed to make it work.

Having Russ behind him one
hundred percent, made it easier for Jonathan to get the rest of the detail to
fall in place. By Wednesday, they were reporting directly to Jonathan and when
he was not around, they reported to Russ. Russ went to Jonathan to clear every
move before they made it, which made things a lot easier to run.

Josh and Cesar were finally
briefed on Wednesday night about the change. Once again, Jonathan suspected
some kind of objection from Josh, but didn't get it. Instead, he was welcomed
back and told if he needed anything from them to make his job easier, just ask.
Just like when he got Russ's response, he was also surprised on Josh and
Cesar's.

Once Jonathan and Russ went over
the added procedures, they left the room, leaving the boys by themselves. Since
they only had a couple of hours before Josh had to get home, they did not waste
any time. Josh jumped into bed and cuddled up to Cesar. They laid there in each
other's arms watching television or talking. Not once did they let anything from
the outside world disturb their alone time.

When it was time for Josh to
leave, like the nights before, they did not want to let each other go.
Reluctantly they did knowing if they didn't, they would be in trouble. Josh
cried as he did the first night, pulling Cesar to tears, but they said their
goodbyes and promised to see each other the next day.

For the first time since college,
Mr. Edgar couldn't fall asleep. Back then he had exams and classes to worry
about, but now it is his job. Things have not been going all that well for him
since he was moved out of teaching classes. Principal Michaels has been making
it hell for him and on top of all that. His case is not going too well at the
school board.

Earlier in the day, his rep told
him that the school board was leaning towards dismissal. If that was to happen,
his teachers degree wouldn't be worth the paper it is written on and he told
that to his rep. The only response he got out of his rep was for him to end
this by presenting Principal Michaels his resignation, something he never
thought he would have to do in his life.

Now here he his walking up and
down trying to decide what to do. If he sticks it out and fights everything, he
could lose it all. On the other hand, he could do what his rep his recommending
and that is hand in his resignation and walk away. At least then, he can get a
teaching position in another school in another district in the city.

As the sun started to rise, he
hadn't completely made up his mind on what he was going to do yet. He heard his
wife get up. In order not to worry her, he ran to the restroom and turned on
the shower. Leaning against the door, keeping his fingers crossed that she did
not notice him not at her side in bed, he waited to hear her walk by. The
closer the footsteps came, the faster his heart beat in his chest. He felt the
knob to the door turning, but she couldn't turn it all the way since he locked
the door.

"Honey are you okay in there?"
Trying to not worry his wife, Mr. Edgar answered in the positive. "Okay, I will
put the coffee to go so when you get out of the shower it will be ready. Don't
leave without letting me know that you are heading out." Once again Mr. Edgar
answered his wife in the positive.

When he heard her walk away, he
jumped into the shower and quickly rinsed off. After shaving and cleaning up
the little mess he made in the sink, he walked to their room to get dressed.
Before walking in though, he made sure she was not there. Once he was for sure
she was somewhere else, he quickly got dressed before heading to the kitchen to
grab himself a cup a coffee.

As he was putting in his sugar,
he felt his wife's hands around his waist, causing him to jump a couple of
feet, dropping his coffee to the floor, shattering the cup. "I am sorry sweetie
for this; I will clean it up before I head out." Mr. Edgar quickly made his way
to the closet where all the cleaning supplies were at and pulled out the broom,
mop and bucket. As he gathered all the cleaning supplies, his wife just looked
at him!

"You have been somewhere else
these last couple of days, what is going on?" Mr. Edgar ignored the question as
he cleaned up the mess. He knew he was not a good liar, at least with his wife,
so he was not about to try and lie to her. "Honey I wish you would tell me what
is going on so I can help you."

"Sweetie there is nothing you
really can do to help me out on what is going on right now. It is problems at
the school and I don't want you to worry about them. After today they are going
to be dealt with one way or another, I promise. I promise things will get back
to normal when I come home this evening."

With that, Mr. Edgar quickly
gathered everything up that he pulled out of the cleaning closet and returned
them. His wife tried to get more detail from him, but he pretended that he
didn't hear her as he grabbed his briefcase and headed out the door. Feeling
like crap on keeping his wife in the dark, Mr. Edgar punched himself several
times as he got into his car and drove off.

All the way to school, he wasn't
paying attention to the road in front of him. He ran a couple of red lights and
almost ran over a couple of people who were walking across the street. After
the third person he almost ran over, he snapped out of it and paid attention to
the road the rest of the way to school.

When he arrived at school, he
tried to get into the school unnoticed, but several of the students that he has
had in his classes in the past greeted him. A couple of them asked him
questions, causing him to stop and answer them, something he tried to avoid.
Finally when he got to Principal Michaels office, he took in a breath of fresh
air.

The secretaries looked up at him
and like every morning since he was taken out of classes and placed in the
office, they gave him a dirty look. They didn't give him the time of day, just
gave him dirty looks. Knowing that he could not afford any more problems, he
ignored the dirty looks and made his way to Principal Michael's office in the
back.

Before entering, he knocked and
waited to be invited in. It only took a few minutes for Michaels to invite him
in, but when he saw whom it was; Edgar could tell he regretted it. Not waiting
for a warm response, Edgar closed the door and took a seat. Principal Michaels
didn't look up from is desk, he kept working on what he was doing, ignoring Mr.
Edgar. After a few minutes of chilling silence, Mr. Edgar spoke.

"I spoke with my rep yesterday
before leaving and he told me that things were not looking so hot at the board
for me. I was wondering if you knew anything else." Principal Michaels looked
up and shrugged his shoulders. "I know I messed up a lot this year or so, but
you know I am a good teacher. Put aside the business with Josh, you not once
had a complaint on me. So forgive me when I say I am surprised that I am being
treated this way. I made one mistake, with one student. Should I lose my job
over it?"

"Mr. Edgar, it is not that you
did it with only one student, it was that you constantly did it to that one
student. You were told time and time again to stop it, but instead of stopping
it, you got worse. It got to the point that you had the entire Los Tigres
walking out. What would you have done if they had done that? How would you have
put together another group of kids in time for the competition on October the
first?"

Mr. Edgar just shrugged his
shoulders. "You see, you did things without even thinking about what would
happen. The outcome of what you were doing not only would have hurt the school,
but your rep as a teacher. Not with the students mind you, but with your fellow
teachers. Not one of them trusts you, not one of them."

"I don't know what else I can do
than what I have already done. I apologized to each of them several times. It
is they that refuse to take my apologies and move on. What else am I supposed
to do to get them to trust me again than what I have already done?" Mr. Edgar
looked down at the floor. "I need your help here sir. There is no way I can go
home and tell my wife that I was fired and there is no chance on me getting
hired anywhere in this city again as a teacher because of that."

Principal Michaels felt bad for
Mr. Edgar, but it was out of his hands now. "I can tell you that it looks like
the school board is going to make its decision after hearing from you on
Monday. The decision right now is not looking like it is going to go your way
and I don't think it will change no matter what you say at your hearing." Mr.
Edgar looked up, visibly shaking. "You have no tenure, which means you can be
relieved without even a hearing, but I fought for you to have that. I had hoped
hearing from you might change things with the school board, but now I see it
won't."

"So what am I supposed to do sir?
I can't lose my job and you know that."

"I know you can't lose your job,
not in this way. If you do, you will not be hireable in this city or any other
city for that matter as a teacher." Principal Michaels got up from his desk and
walked around. "Look the only thing I can tell you that can save you from
losing everything is hand in your resignation. Do it today, because if you wait
any longer, you won't be able to do it."

"If I do that, will I get a
letter or recommendation from you sir since you were my direct boss, not the
school board?"

"I will do one better! Not only
will I give you a letter of recommendation, but also I have already lined you
up a job as a Chorus teacher at Eastwood High School, in the Ysleta District.
The only reason I did that is because I know you have learned from this and
will not make the same mistake again. You won't pick on a student because who
he or she falls in love with or dates." Mr. Edgar cracked a half smile hearing
what his boss did.

"The other reason I am doing this
is because I do not want my god son's father to be unemployable. You and Donna
honored me when you asked me to be his godfather and I will always be looking
out for him." Mr. Edgar was about to thank Principal Michaels, but he was
stopped. "I know what you are about to say and there is no need.

Just tell Donna when you get home
that you were requested for this job and I hated to let you go. It is more pay
and you will be on the fast track to get your tenure. All I ask is that you
don't mess this up. Because if you do, there is nothing else I can do to help
you."

"I promise I won't mess this
second chance up, thank you!" Mr. Edgar got up from his seat and took the
folder that Principal Michaels was holding out to him. He looked through it
quickly and saw it was an employment package for the Ysleta District. He could
not believe after all the things he has done; Principal Michaels went out on
the limb and did what he could to get him another job.

"Here you go Mr. Edgar."
Principal Michaels handed Edgar a white envelope that contained his letter of
recommendation. "All I need from you is you resignation on my desk as of
yesterday." Mr. Edgar pulled out a white envelope from his pocket and handed it
to Principal Michaels. He sat down and read through it quickly and then handed
it back.

"Please rewrite it without
admitting wrong. This letter will be put in your record, which is going to go
to the principal at Eastwood High School. If he sees this letter, he might
think twice about hiring you." Mr. Edgar was confused and Michaels could see
that. "Just make it simple that you are leaving your job because of a better
offer, which is true. Put in there how honored you were working here and things
like that and then hand it in."

"You want me to kiss some butt on
my way out." Mr. Edgar winked as he started to laugh. "I will do whatever you
ask me to do or write. The only question I have really is do I finish the day
here or do I go home after I finish writing this letter?"

"Neither! You have to report to
Eastwood High School as soon as you finish writing up your letter of resignation.
I don't think you are going to be in class today, but they want to make sure
all your forms are filled out and ready to go for Monday." Principal Michaels
smiled at his old friend. "Take this as a new beginning and reinvent yourself.
I know the guy I first met those many years ago is somewhere in there, let him
out again."

Mr. Edgar nodded his head as he
walked out of the office. It only took him ten minutes to rewrite his letter of
resignation. Once he felt it was what Principal Michaels wanted, he went and
handed it in. Just like before, Michaels read the letter, but this time he did
not give it back. Instead, he wished Edgar good luck as they shook hands.

On his way out, he said goodbye
to the secretaries that didn't give him the time of day, which surprised them.
Before leaving the last time from El Paso High School, he walked over to his
old classroom and asked Mr. Franklin to come out to hallway for a few minutes.
At first, Mr. Franklin didn't know what to suspect, but he got surprise.

"I know I have been a total ass
for a while to you and many others in our class, and for that I am sincerely
sorry. There is no excuse for how I have been treating you and some of my
students and I am not going to make any. I have handed in my resignation.
Something I should have done the day I lost why I became a teacher. It was not
to make my students lives miserable like I have been doing. No it was to
nurture their young minds to think on their own and become individuals.
Somewhere along the line I lost my way and it took you to set me straight
again. Thank you and I hope I can always call you my friend."

Stunned on what he was being
told. All Mr. Franklin could do is shake Mr. Edgar's hand and wish him luck. He
stood out in the hall until Mr. Edgar disappeared down the stairway. Once he
didn't see his former co-worker, he walked back into the classroom feeling a
little empty inside. He never wanted it to come down to this, but he knew he
had no other choice than what he had done.

Meanwhile, Josh was staring into
space when he felt someone pat him on his shoulder. At first he didn't think it
was real, but when he felt the pat again, he turned around to see Jonathan
standing there. He leant down and whispered into Josh's ear to get up quietly
and follow him out of the classroom.

As he got up, he couldn't help
but think that something was wrong. A few of his classmates looked at him as he
walked out, but then went back to what they were doing after a few seconds of
looking. Josh followed Jonathan out the door, and once in the hallway, he
stopped his head of security to see what was going on.

"There is someone here to see
you, but doesn't want to come in the school to do so." The answer confused Josh
more than not knowing. Jonathan didn't say anything else. He continued walking
towards the stairs. Neither of them said a word as they made their way out of
the side entrance and across the field. When they reached the side street that
goes parallel to the school, Josh saw several police cruisers, SUV's and a
limousine in the middle. He knew it wasn't his father since the limousine was
not low to the ground, but that got him wondering even more who it might be in
the car.

His question was answered before
he got to the limousine. The door opened and George Strait stepped out of the
car, putting Josh not only at ease, but also at a smile on his face. They shook
hands as they greeted each before getting into the limousine. George explained
to Josh that he didn't want anyone to see him, ask for autographs, or worse,
call the press.

When Josh got into the car he saw
a young guy sitting there. He looks like he might be in his late twenties,
maybe early thirties, but no older than that. He was wearing a blue suit jacket
and slacks, white dress shirt, but no tie. His shoes were so shiny that you can
actually see your reflection in them as if you were looking in a mirror.

As far as looks, he is not a bad
looking guy. You can tell that he goes to the weight room, but he is not over
built, muscle yes, but cut. He was very handsome, but not Josh's type. Moreover,
he is married by the wedding ring that he is wearing, which makes the young
woman that he married a very lucky person.

"Josh let me first say how sorry
I am about what the executives tried to talk you into doing. That didn't come
from the higher ups in the label. They had no idea that Forbes, Barlow and
Cooke were going to suggest anything like that to you. They were only sent down
here to make sure everything was okay and to get you anything you and your
family might need. I know that sounds weird since your family is the first
family of Texas and pretty much have everything you would need at a moment like
that. However, you are now part of the MCA family as well now."

Josh shook his head as he looked
back and forth from George and the other guy in the car. George saw that he
didn't have Josh's complete attention, so he did what he didn't want to do
right off the bat, introduce Ivan.

"Josh I would like you to meet
Ivan Lancaster, Ivan this is the brilliant young man I have been telling you
about." Ivan leaned over and shook Josh's hand. "If you give us a second
chance, Ivan has agreed to be your manager. He will be the only one you will
deal with when it comes to the label, no one else. His one and only job will be
to keep you happy, no matter how many sleepless nights it gives him." Josh
chuckled.

"Look, I know what happened last
week made you mad. Hell it would have made me mad if someone from the label
came up to me and tried to sell what they were trying to sell to you. When I
heard about it, I wanted to rip their heads off, but my wife settled me down.
They had no right to do what they did, and again it won't happen again in the
future.

From now on, you will only have
one person to deal with and that is Ivan here, no one else." George cracked a
smile. "Well I am lying to you a little there. As long as you are singing and I
am in the industry as well, I'll be looking after you as well. If things are
not right, trust me, I will make them right. No matter what the cost it might
be to my career. I really do believe you are the future of country music and we
must make sure that future unfolds or country music will die a slow ugly
death."

"I know you don't know me, but
let me tell you this from the get go." Ivan spoke for the first time. "If you give
MCA another chance, I promise you that you will not live to regret that
decision. I will here night and day, for whatever you need or want. MCA, just
like George here, sees you as the future of not only their label, but also
Country music, so they took all my other clients away and just gave me you.
That means I will be able to devote myself one hundred percent to just you."

"Everything sounds all fine and
dandy here, but you guys can't promise me that another person from the label
like Forbes or Cooke won't come down here again and try to pull a stunt like
they pulled last week. Trust me when I say something else will happen. Maybe
not right away, but something will happen.

Not only am I open about my
sexuality, which that alone is going to cause problems, but I am one of the
sons of the sitting governor. Many have already said that my dad is just
beginning in the political arena and believe the governor's mansion in Austin
is not going to be his last stop. They all say within ten years he will be president.

That means things are not going
to get any easier. People out there are going to want to hurt me, or worse,
kill me for so many different reasons. Rumors will float around about my
sexuality, what is going on with my father, my relationship with Cesar and
everything in between all that. Can you guys handle all that without getting
tired and dropping me from the label?" Josh looked at Ivan and then over to
George.

"When the label took you on, they
knew who they were taking on as a client. I told them who you were and who your
father was. Just as you said, they found out all that and more. Even knowing
all that information, they said yes and never looked back. In other words,
Josh, the answer to your question is yes. The label can handle you, your family
and whatever comes our way in the future concerning all that and more."

"Okay, I need to talk with my
father about all this. Even though I want to stay with your record label
George, my father needs to agree since I am not eighteen." Josh cracked a smile,
causing George and Ivan to crack a smile as well. "And let me tell you the only
reason I want to stay with the label." George and Ivan smile was replaced with
a serious look. "It is because of you George and everything you have done for
me. There is no way I can ever turn my back on you and anything you ask me. You
know as well as I do, I wouldn't have a label if you didn't push for me."

"To tell you the truth, MCA are
the lucky ones. There is no doubt in their minds or mine that you would have
been snatched up by another label. The ones winning here is MCA to have your
name associated with the label, and me to be able to teach you what I know. I
made mistakes in my career. If I had someone looking out for me, I might not
have made all those mistakes. I promised myself to help those that I can, and
you are letting me."

"Thank you for those kind words,
it means a lot to me, more so coming from you." Josh looked at George, a guy he
considers his father in the music industry. "Still I need to talk to my dad
about all this and get him to agree with me that the best thing for me to do
with my music career is stick with you and MCA."

"Before talking with you Josh, I
did talk with your father. I knew you were going to need his permission because
of your age, so I went to him first. He told me that he will go along with
whatever you decide. He believes in your ability to make the right decisions
and see through all the crap out there." George laughed. "Those were your
father's words to me, not mine." George got out between laughs.

They talked a little longer, but
the bell rang, ending second period. Josh knew he had to get going, but didn't
want to. Reluctantly he got out of the car and thanked George and Ivan for
coming down before heading back to the main building. As Josh was walking
across the field, Ivan ran up to him and handed him his card. With that, Ivan
said goodbye and promised to see him again later in the evening at the
hospital.

The rest of the school day
dragged in some periods, and in others it went by fast. By the time Josh got to
fourth period, the rumors were already floating that Mr. Edgar quit his job,
making Josh feel like crap. Even though Mr. Edgar was wrong, in Josh's mind he
didn't deserve to lose his job. He never wanted that to be the outcome for him.

Fourth period flew by the
fastest. Josh figured it went by that fast because it was fun and no one was
arguing about anything. They were too busy learning the new dance moves and the
songs that Mr. Franklin put together last weekend. When the bell rang,
everyone was disappointed that the period was over.

Fifth and sixth period seemed to
drag on forever for Josh. They were not the most boring classes he has ever
been in. But the only thing that kept him from falling asleep was thinking about
Cesar. Every once in a while, he would look over at Cesar's desk and saw it
empty, giving him the creeps. Even before they got together, Cesar never missed
a day of school.

When the final bell rang, Josh
made his way to his locker and then to the SUV as quickly as he could. Jonathan
and the security crew had a hard time keeping up with him through the traffic
of the other students in the hallway. Once they were outside, things were
little different. They were able to surround Josh as they made their way to the
SUV.

All the way to the hospital, Josh
could not stop thinking about what he wants to do with Cesar in the few hours
they had. When he arrived and found that Cesar was being released, he was more
than stunned, he was ecstatic. He was almost jumping out of his skin in the
inside, and barely keeping it together on the outside.

Dr. Whitmore and his staff worked
as fast as they could to get Cesar released as they did not want the governor
and his family stuck in the evening traffic. By four, all the paperwork was
done and signed. The only thing that was left to do was for Cesar to get
dressed, which didn't take long with Josh's help.

By four fifteen, they were
heading to the elevator chatting about this being their last stay in a
hospital, at least they all hope. They are all getting tired of seeing the
walls of this hospital. It seems it is becoming a home away from home for their
family and friends. They are there so much! The hospital should name a wing
after them with the amount of money they have spent in medical bills.

As soon as they got into the
limousine, the governor asked the boys where they wanted to go out and eat to
celebrate Cesar coming home. They threw out several places, but decided on
McDonalds. The governor informed his driver and the security staff where they
are going, and the motorcade was on its way.

When they pulled up to the
McDonald's, they were greeted not only by Al, but also regular citizens that
were out getting dinner for their families as well. They looked on as the governor
and his family made their way into the restaurant. Those that were in the drive
through or passing by went in to see what was going on.

Al escorted some of the security
staff into the kitchen so they could stand guard not only at the side doors, but
watch those that are preparing the food. They want to make sure nothing was
done to the food that might harm the governor or his family. The employees were
nervous with the security looking over their shoulders, but they went on with
their work. When the governor's order came across, they had no idea it was his.

Once the first family of Texas
got their food, they took their seat in the area that the security agents
cleared. They sat there eating and talking like any normal family does when
they sit down for a meal. Everyone that was looking on was surprised on what
they were seeing. They thought that they were different, but now they see they
are just like them, a regular family with regular conversations.

While the first family of Texas
was enjoying their meal at McDonalds, the Petrillo brothers and Immanuel were
walking home from the park where they had played a game of basketball. They
were so far into their conversation that they didn't see the car behind them
driving very slowly. It was a concerned neighbor who alerted the boys of the
car when they found out they were being followed.

When they turned around and saw
the car and who was in it, their hearts dropped to the ground. Patrick thought
they had seen the last of their parents, but here they are following them like
stalkers. Immanuel and Antonio stepped to the side, but Patrick refused to
move, causing his parents to put the car in park and get out.

"Son, I don't know who you think
you are, but if I was someone else, you would be road kill right now. I know
your mother and I taught you better than standing there in the middle of the
street, refusing to move out of the way of an oncoming car."

"First, you, and mom only taught
Antonio and me how to hate, nothing more than that. So do not get all high and
mighty standing there yelling out for the neighbors to hear how good as parents
you two were, because it's a lie. Secondly, if you had a chance, you would run
Antonio and me over. We don't have to worry about strangers out there when you
guys are out here stalking us." That didn't make Patrick's parents happy at
all.

"Look, we are your parents and
you will show us respect." Mr. Petrillo looked over at Antonio and waved him
over. "Come here son, I need to speak to both of you." Antonio looked at Patrick
for guidance. Patrick nodded for him to come to him, not to their parents. "I
don't care where you stand, as long as we can talk with you both without
yelling for the entire neighborhood to hear."

Mr. Petrillo closed his car door
and walked over to where Patrick and Antonio were standing. Mrs. Petrillo
joined them a few seconds later. What Patrick's parents didn't know was that
the neighbor that saw them stalking their kids was running over to the church
to get Father Gomez.

"You guys said a few things the
last time that were not true and we need to clear the air. I never once laid my
hands on your sister in any way, shape or form like you stated the last time we
talked. Whatever you were hearing, you were hearing wrong Patrick. There is no
way you could hear what was going on in the hallway, more so in your sister's
room in the house since the walls are brick."

"Dad you can't stand there and
tell me I am wrong on what I said the last time, because we both know that's a
lie. You were raping Marlene and you know that." Mr. Petrillo walked up to
Patrick and slapped him across the face. He wanted to punch him, but held back.
Patrick quickly covered the area on his face where he was slapped, as tears of
pain started roll down his cheek.

"You'd better watch what you are
saying to me and your mother, we are still your parents. I can take both of you
boys, put you in my car and take you home whenever I want to until you turn
eighteen, and no one can stop me. The only reason I don't do that is because I
don't have the time to watch you two twenty four hours a day.

Now, as I was saying you boys are
wrong on what you are thinking about Marlene and me. I need to know who you
told these lies to so we can go to them and tell them the truth." Neither
Patrick nor Antonio said a word. "I know you boys! You are like little girls
that like to gossip, so to whom have you told these lies to. Was it that priest
you are staying with and his family?"

Patrick was about to open his
mouth when he heard Bernice's voice yelling. They turned around and saw her,
Eric and Father Gomez running towards them. Patrick's parents took a couple
steps back, but didn't leave. They stood their ground and waited for Father
Gomez to arrive so they could find out if Patrick told them anything.

"You are in so much trouble and I
know you know that!" Father Gomez said out of breath as he got to Patrick and
looked at him. "You are no longer Patrick's legal guardian. By you hitting him
as you did, that is assault. I'm going to make sure you are thrown in jail and
you don't get out."

"I don't care what a piece of
paper says, we are his parents and no one can say otherwise." Mr. Petrillo was
pointing back and forth from him and his wife. "My son here is spreading lies
about me and I want to make sure it is corrected before it gets out of control,
right Patrick." Patrick didn't even look at his father, he just stood there.

"Tell this guy that you lied to
him when you told him about what you think you heard going on in the house,
come on tell him the truth Patrick!"

Father Gomez looked into
Patrick's eyes. "Patrick you know there is nothing you can say to me that will
get me angry with you. If you told me something that is not the truth, I won't
get mad. Just clear it up. If your father is lying and everything you have told
me is the truth, there is no need for you to say a word. I will believe your
silence over him."

Patrick looked back and forth
from Father Gomez and his father. When he said what he said, he never intended
to tell anyone else what he knew. He just said it to scare off his parents, but
it back fired. Now here they are causing a big scene in front of his neighbors
who have accepted him, his brother and Immanuel into the community.

He cleared his throat as he
looked into Father Gomez's eyes. "Sir, what my father is talking about is..."

TO BE CONTINUED...

WRITER'S CORNER:

{Welcome back one and all to
another exciting chapter of "Shadow of My Father". It is another filled chapter
of the lives of Josh and the others in the story. So much happened in this
chapter, I do not even know where to begin my summation. I guess the best place
to start is at the beginning as I normally do.

The chapter picked up right where
it left off, kind of. I gave a little back ground on why Josh was arguing with
the three executives from the label. I wonder what you guys think about all
that. Would you have bent and did what they asked, or would you have stood up
to them like Josh and say no? Josh had a lot to lose by saying no, and I think
that is what the executives were banking on, but got a big surprise.

Many of you guessed it was going
to be George Strait to come in and fix everything, you all were right. It seems
that you are getting to know the way I am going to write out the next chapter.
I need to do something to throw you all. I cannot have you guys knowing what I
am going to write before I even write it, LOL.

Josh agreed to stay on with MCA
and now has his own manager. He needs his own manager so he doesn't have to
deal with assholes like Forbes and the other two. That is the manager's job and
if Ivan is a good manager, Josh will never know what is going on business wise.

You all got a little background
on Mr. Edgar. Now you know why Principal Michaels kept him around. He was the
godfather to the teacher's son. He did not want to put his godson's father out
of a job, but Mr. Edgar almost left him with no other choice. Lucky for them,
Mr. Edgar came to his senses and stepped down. I wonder if he would have done
that if Principal Michaels did not line him up a job. I guess that question
will never be answered since he did step down before the school board was able
to rule.

Poor Josh and Cesar, they didn't
want to sleep without each other at their side, but had no other choice. They
almost got punished for standing their ground. I am glad they reluctantly did
what they were told, even though it hurt them a lot. It brought them both to
tears each time they had to say goodbye to each other at the end of the day.

The chapter ended in a happy note
and a bad note. Let's start with the happy note, Cesar able to go home. That
had to make Josh's day. Well that had to make both of their days. Now they
don't have to say goodbye to each other and sleep alone in an empty bed. It
reminds me of an old song my mother use to listen to by Barbara Mandrel,
Sleeping Single in a Double Bed. That is what both of them were doing. Now they
won't be because Cesar is going home, making both of the boys very happy. Let
us hope they don't do any hanky-panky stuff in bed when they turn in.

Finally the end, the cliffhanger!
I know, I know a cliffhanger, but to tell you the truth, I love them and hate
them. I hate them when it happens to me every week when I am watching my
favorite television show and they leave you off wondering what is going on,
just as I do, LOL. So trust me I know how you feel, but at least for now you
don't have to wait that long to see what is going to happen.

Back to the story, Patrick
parents seem to come around to only cause trouble. I wonder if Patrick is going
to tell the truth or cover up for his parents. Recently we have noticed with
Patrick that he is not afraid of his parents, but his father just hit him. What
do you guys think, is he going to tell the truth, or chicken out?

So much going on in this story
and not enough paper to write it all on! I know if I forgot anything in my
writer's corner about this chapter, Trevor will take care of it in his corner.
There are still a lot of open plots out there that I have not even touched on,
and many more new plots are to come. I hope that you all did not forget about
any of those plots, and if you did, well then it will be a lot of fun when they
come back up again. So hold onto your hats ladies and gentleman, the ride is
just beginning!

I could stay here all day long,
with all the open plots already in this story, but I will not. I warn you
though! Do not skip a chapter, or you will be lost. There is a so much to
answer in the chapters to come. Keep reading the future chapters, and enjoy!
Please email me and let me know how I am doing at jacob@jacobmillertex.com, Thanks!}

EDITOR'S CORNER:

Another great chapter Joe thank
you. I love this job. What happened between Josh and the record company could
very well have been authentic because the company publicity machine would have
been out there looking for any chance of selling more records and making
money. That's their job, but the way they went about it was wrong. I mean how
rude and arrogant can you be, but I know from personal experience there are
guys like that in the industry.

Thank goodness George Strait was
able to straighten (sorry for the pun) things out and now that Josh has a
manager who sounds like a switched on guy he will be able to keep all that crap
away from Josh so that all he needs to do is concentrate on his music. If he
is a good manager Josh will never again need worry about money coming in or
going out, were his next gig will be and so on, and I think Ivan will be the right
one.

What a bastard of a cliffhanger,
Joes getting worse, I'm sure you'll all agree with me on that. Personally, I
think Patrick should side with father Gomez and tell the truth as he knows it.
In any case his father should do time for slapping him.

Stay tuned for the next exciting
chapter coming up all being well next Friday.